The University of Regina women's hockey team is set to open their 2014 Canada West play this weekend with a pair of home games against the Manitoba Bisons.

Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre and Saturday's contest is slated for 3 p.m., also at The Co-operators Centre.

Regina was ranked fifth in the pre-season Canada West coaches poll.

The Cougars enter the weekend with a 3-2 non-conference record, including a first-place finish in the Mandi Schwartz Challenge that took place in Regina from Sept. 18-21.

At the helm for Regina is head coach Sarah Hodges, who enters her 17th season with the team. Joining Hodges on the coaching staff are Brandy West-McMaster, Julie Foster, Terry O'Malley and Colleen Sostorics.

The Cougars, who finished the 2013-14 season with an 11-13-4 conference record, will lose fifth-year forwards Kendra Finch, Katelyn Kennedy and Kaitlin Sherven.

Leading the group of returning players is fifth-year defender and team captain Triston Riemer. Assistant captains for Regina will be Carleen Meszaros, Krista Metz and Nicole Mitchell.

Hodges expects Tori Head (pictured), Meghan Sherven and Kylie Gavelin to lead the charge on the offensive end, but the Cougars have seen scoring from all four lines during the pre-season.

Rookies Emma Waldenberger and Caitlin Dempsey are also expected to make a large impact offensively.

Anchoring the blue line along with Riemer, Meszaros and Metz will be Alexis Larson, Jolene Kirkpatrick and Nikki Watters-Matthes.

The Cougars goaltending features returning veterans Jennifer Schmidt and Toni Ross, as well as promising rookie Jane Kish.

"We have a nice balanced attack and expect our goaltending to be solid as well," Hodges said. "We know the Bisons are a strong, young team but we are confident we can compete with them."

Following this weekend, the Cougars will hit the road for two games in Edmonton against the Alberta Pandas.